SAGINAW, MI — A Saginaw County businessman, Paul Mitchell, recently announced he plans to seek the Republican nomination to run for the State Senate seat being vacated in 2014 by Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw.

Kahn, who cannot run again for the seat due to term limits, was most recently elected to a four-year term by 32nd State Senate District voters in November 2010.

Mitchell, 56, announced his candidacy for the seat during a Saginaw County GOP meeting in Thomas Township Thursday, Feb. 7. A Thomas Township resident, he is one of three individuals who, in 2004, purchased the company that operates Saginaw's Ross Medical Education Center.

"I'm a business person, not a politician," Mitchell said.

He said he worked for the medical education provider for more than 29 years and served more than six years as its chief executive officer. Mitchell said he left the company's employment a few years ago and stepped down as a board member in 2012 in order to focus on his political aspirations.

"It's hard to do both," he said.

Mitchell said he plans to reach out to the community in the weeks and months to come. He acknowledged that — with the exception of the famous hairdresser's line of salon products — Paul Mitchell may not be a "household name" in Saginaw County.

Mitchell said jobs will be his highest priority if elected.

"I want to go to Lansing in 2015 to build on the enormous accomplishments we have had since Republicans took control of the governor’s office, state house and state senate two years ago, and the achievements that will occur over the next two years,” he said.

Mitchell said his business background has prepared him to be a state senator.

"Working as a team, we were able to build a solid company that provided career education to thousands of graduates that were able to begin health care careers," Mitchell said. "I understand what a business looks for when deciding to locate or expand in a community or state and I understand how government can support and strengthen those areas so we can attract more business investment and create even more jobs."

Mitchell points to the recent Right to Work legislation as "the single most important step Michigan has taken toward creating more jobs and a better educational environment." He said he respects the work done by former Rep. Ken Horn, but disagrees with some of the state legislator's positions, including his vote against Right to Work.